Application Deadline:December 31st 2015.
The Biosciences eastern and central Africa – International Livestock Research Institute (BecA-ILRI) Hub, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is a shared agricultural research and biosciences platform that exists to increase access for African researchers to affordable, world-class research facilities.
The mission of the BecA-ILRI Hub is “Mobilizing Bioscience for Africa’s Development” by providing a Centre of Excellence in agricultural biosciences, which enables research, capacity building and product incubation, conducted by scientists in Africa and for Africa, and empowers African institutions to harness innovations for regional impact. This mission is achieved by the BecA–ILRI Hub’s contributions to:
- Research: enabling research to harness the potential of the biosciences to contribute to increasing agricultural productivity and to improving food and nutritional safety and security.
- Education: contributing to the education and training of the next generation of African agricultural research leaders and scientists.
- Innovation: promoting the development, delivery and adoption of new technologies to address key agricultural productivity constraints.
The purpose of the ABCF fellowship program is to develop capacity for agricultural biosciences research in Africa, to support research for development projects that ultimately contribute towards increasing food and nutritional security and/or food safety in Africa, and to facilitate access to the BecA-ILRI Hub facilities by African researchers (and their partners).
BecA–ILRI Hub seek applicants with innovative ideas for short to medium term research projects (up to 12 months) aligned with national, regional or continental agricultural development priorities that can be undertaken at the BecA-ILRI Hub.
Eligibility/applicant requirements
- National (passport holder) of a BecA-ILRI Hub target country for this call: Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Madagascar, São Tomé and Príncipe, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. In exceptional cases we may consider applicants from other African countries. The applicant MUST be a researcher employed at a NARI or university.
Please note that applicants from BURKINA FASO, CAMEROON, ETHIOPIA, GHANA, KENYA, RWANDA, SENEGAL, TANZANIA and UGANDA are NOT eligible to apply to this call. A separate strategy has been developed to support these countries through nominations, to build on the on-going engagements between national research organizations and universities in these countries and the BecA-ILRI Hub. The nomination will also aim at filling priority national research gaps jointly identified through on-going engagements. HOWEVER, research scientists from the nine countries may apply to this call only if;
(i) They have own funding to fully support their research and all other costs while at the BecA-ILRI Hub, or
(ii) They are able to secure a significant portion (at least 50%) of their total research budget and other necessary costs while at the BecA-ILRI Hub. In this case they would be seeking partial funding through application for an ABCF fellowship.
- Currently engaged in research in food and nutritional security or food safety in Africa, or in a research area with relevance to agriculture in Africa.
- Good working knowledge of written and spoken English.
- Completed online application form.
- A signed letter of endorsement of the application from the head of the applicant’s home institute/organization/university faculty.
Fellowship Worth:
The BecA-ILRI Hub has secured funding to sponsor several fellowships on a highly competitive basis. The fellowship will cover the following costs[1];
- Research costs at the BecA-ILRI Hub;
- Travel;
- Medical insurance;
- Accommodation;
- A modest subsistence allowance.
Timeline:
- For any inquiries / clarifications related to this call, please send an email to: w.ekaya(at)cgiar.org Responses to inquiries/clarifications will close on December 20th 2015 mid-night (Nairobi time).
- Closing date for applications: December 31st 2015.
- Notification to early applicants will start from January 22nd 2016. The notification process will be completed by February 22nd 2016 (indicative dates depending on volume of applications).
- Implementation of projects: projected start date is late March 2016.
Apply Now Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund 2016
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund 2016
